Justine Greening announced the decision to cut aid to South Africa in an
attempt to boost the Conservatives’ local election campaign, the South
African government has claimed.

The International Development Secretary disclosed this week that the £19 million-a-year support package would end from 2015 because South Africa was “in a position to fund its own development”.

The South African government reacted furiously, claiming it had not been properly informed before the announcement was made.

Now the country’s finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, has escalated the row by claiming that Miss Greening directly linked her announcement to the Conservatives’ need to win votes in the council elections.

Cutting international aid is seen as a populist move at a time when budgets are tight at home.

Speaking at a conference, Mr Gordhan said Miss Greening had brought forward the announcement to “demonstrate some kind of fiscal probity” to voters.

Related Articles

The Finance Minister went on to say that he believed Miss Greening’s actions to had been “extremely improper".

During a discussion between the minister and Miss Greening, “reference was made to the elections in Britain”, Mr Gordhan said.

The announcement about ending the aid package had been due to be made next week in Cape Town, he suggested.

“I wasn’t aware that there could be a possible link now between bringing forward something that was supposed to happen in Cape Town next week to Tuesday this week... and the elections,” he said.

There was “some intention to demonstrate some kind of fiscal probity here using South Africa as a guinea pig, which I think is extremely improper and highly regrettable because we have enjoyed a very good relationship with the British people”.

The Department for International Development issued a statement which did not challenge the claim that Miss Greening had linked the announcement to the election campaign.

A spokesman for DfID said: “Our announcement comes after months of discussions with the South African government.

“DfID ministers and senior officials have met with the South African government on many occasions to discuss our decision.

“It is right that our relationship changes to one of mutual co-operation and trade."

Ivan Lewis, the shadow international development secretary, called on Miss Greening to provide a “full and frank explanation” of her conduct.

“If she has allowed narrow party interests to override Britain’s foreign policy interests she has serious questions to answer about her judgment and integrity,” he said.

A spokesman for DfID later said: "The timing of the announcement had nothing to do with the local elections."